Earlier today, we reported on the news that the Denuvo DRM protection in Doom: The Dark Ages had been bypassed. Now, just three days ahead of its release, it has come to light that the highly anticipated game Crimson Desert will also feature this protective measure on PC.

According to a recent update on the game’s Steam page, noted by The Gamer, the addition of Denuvo was first recognized on March 12th, as shown by SteamDB. As excitement builds with the game set to launch soon, many players are expressing their dissatisfaction on social media.

This decision may seem like a significant misstep to seasoned PC gamers who are familiar with past performance issues linked to Denuvo. Nevertheless, Crimson Desert has garnered over 3 million wishlists earlier this month and is generating considerable excitement. Regardless of critical reception, it appears that Pearl Abyss is poised for success with this release.

The announcement regarding Denuvo has sparked intense discussion on the game’s Steam forums and subreddits, creating divides within a community that previously held high hopes for the title. One user expressed frustration, suggesting it was “unfair” that the developers didn’t disclose this information, while others speculated that the game’s performance could be negatively impacted. Another remarked that their comments would likely face backlash from die-hard fans of the developers, despite being valid concerns.

There’s a lively debate unfolding between those who view Denuvo as a detrimental addition and players eager to experience the game for themselves. “I kind of expected this, which is disappointing,” commented one prospective buyer. It’s worth noting that many recent AAA titles come with some form of DRM, and Denuvo tends to be a common choice, generally effective in safeguarding new releases from piracy.

On Steam, some users are advocating for the cancellation of their preorders ahead of the game’s launch on March 19. Many sentiments echo reluctance or a shift towards opting for console versions instead. Some players are simply hoping that any performance decline won’t be too severe and that they might eventually find a way to mitigate Denuvo’s effects, which raises concerns about fair use for paying customers.

As of now, there are no performance metrics available for the final PC version of Crimson Desert, leaving the validity of these concerns uncertain. Historical precedents have made gamers cautious about Denuvo’s impact in CPU-intensive games, explaining the anxiety among veteran players. It remains unknown whether Denuvo will also be implemented in the game’s release on the Epic Games Store.